Peoples Council in all LGUs proposed

A lady-lawmaker has proposed to institutionalize a system of partnership between local

governments and civil society organizations as a concrete road to meaningful people empowerment.
The people should be given a venue where they can decide on things that are good for them,
ep. !eni "erona-obredo #$
rd
%istrict, &amarines 'ur( declared.
ep. "erona-obredo, the widow of the late %)!" 'ecretary *esse obredo, is author of +,
-.// or the proposed Act to be known as The 0eople 1mpowerment Act of 23/, which would
create a 0eople4s &ouncil in every !"5, prescribing its powers and functions.
)t has been public knowledge that the late 'ec. obredo was an icon in good governance,
revered for his simplicity as a man who listens to people, who crafted programs that allowed people
to participate in the governance process.
1very day since ) was elected epresentative of my district, ) vowed to continue and elevate
his legacy. ) vowed to institutionalize the various programs he introduced to uphold good
governance, the lady lawmaker said with a lace of emotion.
6ne of the late 'ecretary4s legacies, she proudly cited, was instilling direct people
participation in 7aga &ity4s system of governance during his term as 8ayor of 7aga.
Through the 1mpowerment 6rdinance of 7aga &ity, the 7aga &ity 0eople4s &ouncil #7&0&(
was created allowing civil society participation in the governance process. 7ot only they were given
seats in each Sanggunian committee, they were also given the power to vote on key measures at the
committee level, she recalled.
The creation of the 7&0& paved the way for 7aga4s unprecedented progress. &ivil society
served as partner in determining key development programs and served as first hand sources in
pinpointing issues that needed immediate attention. )t also served as a guide in the crafting of &ity
development plans, she pointed out.
'he also added that the 7&0& opened the way to supplement the government4s resources
because with the participation of civil society, the &ity government was able to have access to a pool
of talent and resources that were previously untapped.
,ecause of the participation of trained professional, infrastructure pro9ects were strategically
built and positioned and programs were geared toward specific goals like health and education,
"erona-obredo e:plained.
The proposed 0eople 1mpowerment Act of 23/-, "erona-obredo stressed, seeks to
mimic her late husband4s 7aga &ity governance strategy.
)t will push for an environment where people can participate in policy and decision-making
processes countrywide, she concluded. #$3( dpt
NR # 3586B
SEPT. 11, 2014